Web feed control



July 12, 1949. E R SABEL ETAL l 2,475,722

WEB FEED CONTROL Filed sept.- 1a, 194e '4 sheets-sheet 1 l EN T0125I July 12, 1949. E R, SABEL E1- AL 2,475,722

WEB FEED CONTROL Filed sept. 1e, 1946 4 sheets-sheet 2 IIIIIILUIIIH IIIIIII IIIIHHIHIH July 12, 1949. E. R. SBEL ET AL 2,475,722

wEB FEED coNTEoL Filed sept. 18, 194e 4 sheets-sheet s July 12, 1949- i E. R. SABEL ET AL 2,475,722

a wEB FEED CONTROL Filed Sept. 18, '194e 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented July 12, 1.949

WEB FEED CONTROL Edward R. Sahel and Frank I. Galbrecht, Rochester, N. Y., assignors to The Haloid Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 18, 1946, Serial No. 697,640

11 Claims.

1 This invention relates to a photocopy machine of the general type used for making photographic -copies of writings, maps, drawings, pages from books, and other records, in which sensitized paper after exposure is fed from a roll in a paper magazine of the camera for a predetermined distance following which the paper is cut off and carried through a processing mechanism, and it has for its purpose to afford simple and efficient means which enables an operator to make a manual adjustment to determine the amount of paper to be fed, after which upon operating a circuitclosing member, the mechanism functions automatically to feed the selected length of paper and cut it off for discharge into the processing mechamsm.

One object of the invention is to provide mechanism that will feed paper quickly and accurately in accord with the predetermined length and cut the paper at the end of the feeding movement in such a way as to insure prints of a selected length being always the same size.

A further purpose of the invention is to afford a construction of simplified form and dependable operation, in which the starting and stopping of the paper feeding rolls and their consequent movement through the variable selected period is brought about by the operation of electric switches which control the roll operating means, resulting in a compact arrangement of few parts that is efhcient and easy to adjust and service.

Another object of the invention is to afford mechanism employing an electric motor driven controller that makes one revolution at eac-h operation, during which it operates an electric switch that is adjustably positioned to determine the starting of the paper feeding operation and a second electric switch that is permanently 1ocated and determines the stopping of the paper feeding operation, following which the paper cutoff mechanism is operated automatically from the drive and the motor circuit is opened to complete a cycle.

An additional purpose of the invention is to provide an arrangement whereby one electric motor operates the controller and the paper feed mechanism, which is automatically engaged and disengaged with the motor drive through a clutch member actuated by an electrical device that is operated through a normally open circuit-closing switch which is adjustably positioned in the path of the controller and a normally closed circuitopening switch that is xedly located in the path of the controller, thus determining the variable time of operation of the paper feeding mechanism in relation to one revolution of the controller.

Still another object of the invention is to provide mechanism in which the paper feeding rolls are operated from an electric motor drive through the instrumentality of a clutch that is engaged and disengaged at predetermined points in relation to the revolution of a controller which during its travel in a circular path eifects engagement and disengagement of the clutch at predetermined points by means of an electrical unit and two electric switches, one of which is adjustably positioned around the path of travel of the controller to determine the length of paper feed.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts that will appear clearly from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the novel features being pointed out in the claims following the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation, partially broken away, illustrating a photocopy machine equipped with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional View through Fig. 1, and showing in side elevation the means for controlling the paper feeding and cuto mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, illustrating in plan the parts shown in Fig. 2; v

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view, illustrating in side elevation the adjusting means for the paper feeding mechanism;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical controlling circuit.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the several views, the structure is illustrated in connection with a photocopy machine of the type shown in copending application Ser. No. 690,982, led August 16, 1946, Patent No. 2,430,687, dated November 11, 1947, and including a camera body I, paper magazine 2, bellows 3, stationary supporting frame 4 on which the processing mechanism is mounted, and adjustable copy-board supporting frame 5 which is connected by means f arms 6 to the lens and prism mount, not shown, at the forward end of the bellows 3. The prints, after exposure, are fed downwardly through a discharge chute l into the processing mechanism which includes belt-feeding units, not shown, that are operated from a drive shaft 8 through suitable worms 9 and worm gears I0, the latter being arranged on the belt feeding units which act to effect travel of the prints continuously through the processing mechanism.

The structure thus far described formsno part of the invention except as hereinafter indicated, and the subject matter of this application has to do with the mechanism for feeding downwardly from the paper magazine a variable predetermined length of paper, afterv exposure, and cutting it off, following which the paper is carried through the processing mechanism, and the means for adjustably determining the length of paper to `be fed and for feeding and cutting it olf after exposure will now be described in detail.

This structure comprises in general drive means operated from an electric motor that is set in operation by the manual closing of a switch, the operator having previously made the necessary adjustment for determining the length of paper to be fed, after which themechamsrn operates automatically through the instrumentality of electrical switches to feed and cut off the selected length of paper, t0 eifect which, the drive shaft operates a controller that makes one complete revolution for each cycle. During the initial part of each revolution, the -controller closes a normally open switch which maintains the motor circuit closed throughout-one revolution of the controller, and following.. the closing of said switch, the controller operates. an adjustable normally open switch which closes the circuit to av solenoid or other electrical, unit that actuates a clutch between the drive shaft and roll feeding. means, said clutch` remaining engaged and the feeding rolls continuing. to operate until the controller in itsv rotation engages and operates a normally closed switch at a xed point in the path of the controller to open the solenoid circuit and disengage the clutch. This stops movement of the feeding rolls, following which during the final part of its travel, the controller engages an actuator that effects movement of the cutting knife to sever the length of paper already fed down by the feeding rolls. The adjustable switch is positionable around the circular path of travel of the controller for engagement during the early or latter part of its travel, depending upon the length of paper to be fed.

The paper feeding rolls are indicated at I I and I2 respectively, see Fig. 1, the feed roll II being mounted on a shaft carrying a pin-ion that is engaged and driven by an idler gear I3, operated by a pinion I4, see Fig. 2, that is mounted on a driven shaft arranged in suitable bearings and having keyed thereon a slidable clutch member I that is normally held in retracted position by a spring I6 fastened at one end to a stationary bracket I 'I and at its other end to a clutch shifter I8 that is pivctally supported at I9, and has its upper end pivotally connectedto the movable element of a solenoid 2I. When the solenoid is actuated by the closing of its circuit in the manner to be described presently, the clutch element I5 is moved into engagement with a clutch element 22, see Fig. 2, on the drive shaft 23, that is operated from the electric motor 24. The circuit to motor 24 is normally open and is closed by the manual operation of a switch 25 that is of any suitable type and may be closed simultaneously with the operation of the switch to the exposure operating means, not shown. The switch 25 is closed momentarily by the operator and restored to its normal position upon release. The cycle of feeding and cut-off operations is initiated by the manual operation of the switch. 25, which closes the motor circuit momentarily, and the mechanism by which the motor circuit is held closed, and the successive feeding and cut-off operations effected, will now be described.

To effect these functions, there is provided a rotary controller which may be in the form of a l. circular disk 26 that is fixed on a shaft 21 which also carries a worm gear 28, driven by the worm 2.9. on the. drive shaft 23. The periphery of the controller or disk 26 is cut out or recessed at 3l to. afford a pocket which receives an operating arm 32 of a normally open micro-switch 33, which may be of conventional construction, and is located in the circuit with motor 2.4` The motor circuit is closed momentarily by operation of the manual switch 25 already described, whereupon the controller 26 instantly moves far enough. to actuate the switch operating arm. 32* out. of recess 3|, and the operating arm 32 is'held, in such. outward position by engagement with the outer edge or periphery of the controller disk 2li` throughout one revolution of the latter, thus.

maintaining the motor ln. operation until the recess 3'I, upon completion of. av rotation or cycle of the controller, again comes Opposite the arm` 32; and permits the latterto drop into the recess and open themotor circuit.

Movement of the controller through one revolution being thus effected, itv is necessary to start operation of the, paper feeding rolls at the. prede.- termined selected point,v and this is accomplished by a normally open micro-switch 34. that is mounted upon a. bracket 35 rotatably supported for adjustment on the shaft 21:. To accomplish such adjustment, the bracket 35 is mounted on a sleeve connected to a bevel pinion 3l, see Fig. 3, that is operated by a bevel. pinion 38 mounted on the arbor 39` which extends outside the paper magazine and is provided with a. handle 4I, see Fig. 1, movably posltionabl'e over the index plate 42, provided with suitable markings to indicate the length of paper print as from 8" to 24". By adjusting the hand-le 4;I around the indicating scale 42, the micro-switch 34 isv correspondingly adjusted-around the circular path of the controller 26. The micro-switch 34 is ay normally open switch in a circuit leading to relay 43` and to the aforementioned solenoid 2 I., and when the switch 34 is momentarily closed by travel of the controller 26 and its eng-agement with the switch at the preselected path in such travel, the solenoid 2I is` operated through relay 43 and the pa per feeding rolls are operated in the manner already described throughy shifting of the clutch element by the solenoid.

The relay 43 continues to hold the solenoid circuit closed andthe paper feeding rol-1s in opera.- tion until the controller 26, reaches a further point in its travel,vv at which time the. relay and solenoid circuits are opened and the movement of the paper feeding rolls is stopped. The micro-switch 34 includes a switch operating arm 44 see Figs. 2

and 3, which lies in the path of and is engaged by an abutment or cam 45 mounted upon the face oi the controller 26, and which acts to rock the arm 44 momentarily and close the switch 34 as the abutment 45 moves past the switch arm 44.

The paper feeding rolls continue to operate until the abutment 45 o-n the controller 26 engages a switch operating arm 46 of a micro-switch 41, which is xedly mounted on a suitable bracket 48. The switch 41 is a normally closed switch located in the circuit with the relay 43 and solenoid 2|, so that current continues to travel to these units until the switch arm 46 is engaged and actuated by the abutment 45, to momentarily open switch 41 and thus release relay 43 and open the circuit to solenoid 2|. This releases the clutch shifter I 8 and clutch element I5 is thereupon pulled away from the clutch 22 by means of the retracting spring I6 already mentioned, to stop movement of the paper feeding rolls.

Following the momentary opening of the microswitch 41 and stopping of the paper feeding rolls, the controller 26 and worm gear 28 continue to rotate until the controller reaches its initial Dosition, as shown in Fig. 2, to open the motor circuit, and during this final part of the rotational travel of the controller after the pap-er feeding rolls have stopped movement of the paper, the cut-olf mechanism is operated, and the structure by which this is accomplished will now be described.

Referring to Fig. 5, 49 designates a stationary knife and 5| a movable knife that is actuated past the stationary knife 49 to sever the paper, the movable knife 5I being supported on plates 52 rotatably mounted on arbors 53 while the plates 52 include toothed segments 54 engaged by the toothed segments 55 mounted on a rock shaft 56 for actuating the movable knife. The rock shaft 56, see Fig. 2, has fixed thereon an arm 51 carrying a pin 58 which engages a horizontal slot 59 in a guide bracket mounted on the vertically reciprocating actuator or slide 6I, that is slotted at 62 for vertical sliding movements on the guide pins 63. The actuator or slide 6I is provided with a lateral extension or nose 64, see Fig. 3, that lies in the path of a roller 65 carried by the worm gear 28, and as the worm gear rotates and approaches the limit of its movement, roller 65 engages the nose 64, after movement of the paper feeding rolls has stopped, and moves the actuator or slide 6I downwardly, to effect turning of the rock shaft 56 and operation of the movable knife. Continued movement of the worm gear causes the roller 65 to move past the nose 64, releasing the slide 6I which is retracted to its uppermost position by a spring 66 connected to the lower end of the slide 6I and to a fixed support 61. f

The operation of the machine briefly is as follows: The operator first adjusts handle 4I to determine the amount of paper to be fed, in accordance with the usual adjustment for the size of the exposure, and the switch is closed by the operator simultaneously with or upon exposure. Closing of switch 25 starts operation of the motor 24, drive shaft 23, clutch element 22, worm 23, worm gear 28, and controller 26. Immediately upon movement of the controller 26, the switch arm 32 is pushed out of its recess 3|, engaging the periphery of the controller disk 26, and thereafter holding the motor circuit closed throughout a complete revolution of the controller. As the controller rotates, the abutment or cam 45 engages the switch arm 44 of switch 34, the position of which relatively to the path of travel of the controller has been determined by adjustment of the handle 4| over the dial 42. The

normally open switch 34 is thus closed momentarily, operating the relay 43 and through it the solenoid 2| and movable clutch element I5, which is thus engaged with the driving clutch 22 to start movement of the paper feeding rolls. The switch 34 closes the circuit to relay 43 and solenoid 2| only momentarily, but this circuit is held closed by switch 41 and relay 43 after the abutment 45 has moved past the switch arm 44, and until abutment 45 engages switch arm 46 of the switch 41. When this occurs, the circuit to relay 43 is opened, the solenoid 2| is deenergized, and the driven clutch I5 is released and moves away from the driving clutch 22 under the impulse of spring I6, thus stopping movement of the paper feeding rolls. Continued movement of the controller and worm gear 28 causes the roller 65 to engage the nose B4 on actuator 6I and depress the latter immediately after the paper feeding rolls have stopped their movement. Downward movement of the actuator 6I causes a rocking motion of the arm 51 and rock shaft 56, and corresponding movement of the toothed segments 55 and 54, causing the movable knife 5I to move past the stationary knife 49 and cut off the previously fed portion of the sensitized paper, which drops through the chute 1 into the processing mechanism. By this time the rotating controller will have completed a revolution and reached a point Where the recess 3| is opposite the switch arm 32, permitting the latter to drop into the recess and open the motor circuit, thus completing a cycle of operations.

While the invention has been described with reference to the particular construction illustrated, it is not confined to the details or exact arrangement shown herein, and this application is intended to cover such modifications or departures as may come within the purposes of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a photocopy machine including paper feeding rolls and electrically controlled means operating the paper feeding rolls, a controller rotatable through one revolution at each operation, a manual switch operable to start the controller, a normally open switch operated by the controller yand acting to complete one revolution of the controller, and a pair of switches arranged in the path of and operated by said controller, one of said last mentioned swtiches being normally open and the other normally closed and acting successively to start and stop said electrically controlled means, said normally open switch being rotatively adjustable to different points in the path of said controller, and a rotatively adjustable support on which the last mentioned switch is mounted.

2. In a photocopy machine including paper feeding rolls and electrically controlled means operating the paper feeding rolls, a` controller operable through one revolution at each operation, an electric motor operatively connected to the controller, manually operated means for starting the motor, a switch in the path of the controller acting to stop said motor when the controller completes one revolution, and a pair of switches arranged in the path of and operated by saidcontroller and acting successively to start and stop said electrically controlled means, one of said last mentioned switches being adjustable to different points in the path of the controller. 3. In a photocopy machine including paper mmm 7 feedingv rolls and operating means therefor` in cluding' a driven* clutch, andE a1 drive shaft having a driving clutch mounted. thereon,- electricallycontrolled means: operating tomove said driven clutch into engagement withsa-id'i drivingY clutch; a; controller movable through one= revolution at each operation, and a pair'of'switches arranged in the path of saidA controller' and'operatin'g sucrh cessivel'yf tol start andi stop: saidv electrically con"- trolled means for starting' and stopping said driven clutch one of said' switchesboing adjusti able to different points ini t-helpath" of' said=.con' troller.

4. In a photocopy 4machine including paper feeding rolls and. operating means` therefor including a drivencl'utch, andi-ar Ydrivesl'iaft'having a driving clutch mounted thereon, electrically controlled means operating tomovesaid, driven clutch into engagement. with saidl driving clutch", a controller movable throughonerevolution at each operation, anA electric-motor operativelyI con nected to said drive shaft; manually. operated means. for starting the motor, a' switch in the pathy of said' controller and actuated. thereby upon the completion of'v one`4 revolution off the controller to stop: said.' motor; and' a pair.` of switches arranged in thek path ofsaidi controller and operating successive'lyf to startand stop' said electrically controlled means for starting and stopping said driven clutch; one oft'said" switches being adjustable to differentv points iny theA path ofsaid controllers.

5. In,v a photocopy machine including, paper feeding rolls and operating means therefor'inicluding adrivenicli-itclfnl andzadrive shaft. having ak driving clutch. mountedf. thereom, electrically controlled means` operatingl tonmove said driven clutch into engagementr with saidA driving clutch; at controller operatively connected toisaidr ydrive shaft'V and. movable. through: one,- revolution; at each operation, and a pair'of switchesarranged in the path of said controller and operating successively to start andi stop said electricallyl controlle-d means for starting. and: stopping'y said.

cluding a driven clutch, and a drive'shaft having a driving clutch mounted: thereon; electrically` controlled means operating; tomove said driven clutch into engagement with said'v driving clutch; a controller operatively connected to-saiddrive: shaft and movablefthroughone revolution at each operation, an electric motors-operativelyconnect.- ed to said drive shaft, manually operated' means for starting the motor, a switch: inthe path o'I said controller and actuated thereby upon the,- completion of one revolution. of` the controller to stop said motor,y and a. pair. of switches, are ranged in the path of said' controller"andzoperat ing successively to start and-stop saidyelectricarlly controlled means for starting. andv stopping saidf driven clutch, oneof said switcheszbein'gf adjust-1 able to different points ini. the path: ofz'said. con trollei'.

7. In a photocopyY machine.I including paper feeding rolls and operating-means therefor in'- cluding a driven clutch, and a drive s-hafthaving. a driving clutch mountedthereon, a.solenoi'd..operating to move said4 driven,` clutch into. engage:-` ment with said driving clutch; arcontfroller. mov-- able through one revolution at each operatiom,

and a pair of switches arranged-i inf. the. path' of said" controller-4 and'` operating successively to energize and deenergize saidL solenoid' for.4 starting and stopping said driven clutch, one of' said switches being adjustable' to different points in the path offsaid'controller.

8l In: a photocopy machine including paper feeding rolls andi operating means therefor including a` driven clutch, and a1 drive-shaft having drivingfclutch mountedthereon; al solenoid'operating to'move said driven clutch into engagementi with sa-id drivingfclutch, acontroller operativel'y'oonnected to said drive shaft and-movable through; one revolution at each operation, an electric motor operatively connected to-said drive shaft, manually operated means for starting` the motor, al switch= in the-path of said'controller'an'd actuated thereby upon completion of One'revolwtion to=stop said motor; and a pair of' switches arrangedinthe path of said-controller` and-operating successively to energizeand'd'eenergize said solenoid for starting and stopping said driven clutch; one of said switches being adjustable to different points inthe'v path of' said controller.

9'. In ay photocopy machine including paper feeding rolls` and operating means therefor including'a driven clutch, and a: drive shaft'having adriving clutch mounted thereon, a solenoid operating to move said driven clutch into engagement with saidr driving clutch,. a. worm ony said drive shaft, a worm gear driven by'said worm, a controller carried by said Worm gear and movable through one revolution at each operation, an electricmotor operativelyl connected to. said?A drive shaft, manually operated means for starting the motor, a switch inthe path of said controller and actuated thereby uponcornpleticnof one revolution tostop saidmotonand'a pair ofswitches ar.- ranged in the path of said, controller andoperatingisuccessively to energize anddeenergize said solenoid for starting and stopping said. driven clutch,l one ofsaid: switches being adjustable to different pointsin the pathot said controller.

I0; In a photocopy machine including paper feeding, rolls` and operating means therefor in.- cludihga driven clutch, andaidrivevshaft having a. driving clutch. mounted thereon, electrically controlled means operating to. move said driven clutchinto engagement withisaididriving clutch| a. worm gear. on said drive. shaft, a worm' gear drivenrby saidworm, a controller carried-by. said worm gear. and movable through: one revolution at` each.v operation, and. a pair of' switches. arranged. inthe path of said controller and operating successively to start andy stop said electrically controlled meansfor starting and stopping said driven clutch, one of. said-switchesbeingad` instable tol` differenti` points in thepath of the controller.

1l. In a; photocopy machine. including, papel'. feeding! rolls.y and operating; meansv therefor includinga driven clutch, andiy a. drive 1 shaft having ai. driving clutchv mounted thereon', electrically controlled meansf operating; toV move said driven clutch intObngagementu with said; driving clutch, a. worm gear onxsaiddrive shaft,4 azworin gear driven: bysaid worm, a controller carriedv by said worml gear and movable, through one revolution at each operation, an electric-motoroperatively. connected to. Vsaid-1 drive shaft`,.manually operated means: forl starting the motor, al switch in the pathsof thefcontroller anda'ctuated therebyfupon completion, of l one'i revolution to i stop'v said motor, and; at. pair of. switches@ arranged in the; path of said'. controller: and operating successively to start 10 and stop said electrically controlled means for UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS starting and stopping said driven clutch, one of Number Name Date said switches being adjustable to different points 1 311 655 Larson July 29 1919 in the path 0f the controller- 1:818j462 Caps Aug. 11, 1931 EDWARD R- SABEL- 5 2,191,212 Landrock Feb. 2o, 1940 FRANK I- GALBRECHT 2,298,492 Longnem oct, 13, 1942 REFERENCES CITED The following referernc'es are of record in the lo flle of this patent: 

